Electric and automatic fuel vaporizer



Dec. 13, 1938.

A. SKOK ET AL ELECTRIC AND AUTOMATIC FUEL VAPORIZER Filed Dec. 9, 1957Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC ANDAUTOMATIC FUEL VAPOR IZER 6 Claims.

Our invention relates to electrically energized and automaticallyoperated Vaporizers, adapted for fuels used in the internal combustionengines, said fuels belonging to the hydrocarbon class and/or theirderivatives, which are of high or low flash point and involatile liquidor gaseous form.

Therefore, an object of our invention is to provide an element, which isplaced within the intake passage of the internal combustion engine, saidelement being adapted to receive and maintain a temperature supplied bythe electrical energy while it passes therethrough, thus causing saidelement to be heated at the temperature required and consequentlycausing the disintegration of the fuel into a gaseous form.

Manifestly, an object of our invention is to provide a vaporizer whichis electrically heated and which will cause the passing gases to becomedisintegrated into fine gaseous atoms, and therefore, causing quickignition of the gaseous charge in the cylinders of the engine andconsequently preventing the formation of the carbon therein.

Further object of our invention is to provide said vaporizer with meansfor controlling the air passage into the intake manifold of the internalcombustion engine, so that an additional volume of air may be intermixedwith the heated gases and thus increasing the volatility of the gasmixture.

Another object of our invention is to provide a magnetically energizedcontact point which will cause the electric current to flow through theheating element, so that the fuel vaporizer may be effected and somaintain during the operation of the engine.

Further object of our invention is to provide a suitable vacuum cylinderwhich is connected to the intake manifold of the internal combustionengine, :and which is provided with a suitable contact means forallowing the electric current :to pass therethrough and to the heatingelement of theapparatus during the operation of the engine.

\ Another object of our invention is to provide said heating elementwith a suitable mounting adaptor, which is for holding said element incentral position and in the path of the passing atomized fuels, comingfrom the carburetor, and which is so arranged whereby the maximum heatmay be maintained at the point or a place where the gases mustinvariably pass through and, therefore, breaking up the gas molecules inreadiness for the combustion.

Further objects and advantages of our invention aswill hereinafter morefully appear, we attain by the construction herein shown on the drawingand described in the specification forming a part of our application.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which the similarreference characters denote the similar parts.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows-the partly elevational and partly I cross-sectional view ofthe heating and controlling apparatus, taken on the line |l of the Fig.2.

Fig. 2 shows the top view, partially cross-sectional, showing theheating elements and their connections, taken on the line 22 of the Fig.1.

Fig. 3 shows the cross-sectional view of the insulators taken on theline 33 of the Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows the top elevational view of the air valve taken in thedirection of the arrow 4.

Fig. 5 shows the apparatus connected to the instrument board, having itsconnection extended in modified form.

Describing our invention more in detail, said invention comprises anelement 2, the vacuum controlled switch 4, which is also provided withan air valve member 6, and which inter-connects the vacuum cylinder 8,including the intake manifold I0, also having a supplemental air valveI2, provided with an air inlet needle control l4.

Said element 2 comprises a pair of conically spiral coils l5 and 18respectively, which are made of suitableelectrical heat resistingmaterial, and which, has the small ends 20 and 22 respectively connectedto the bushings 24, one on each end thereof, said bushing being mountedupon a stud member 26 and supported in place by means of suitable nuts28, so that the radial space 30 between said coils l6 and I8 isapproximately th of an inch.

In order to hold said stud member 26 in proper position, and within saidmanifold Hi, the stud end 32 is attached to a cross bar member 34, andheld in place by means of lock nuts 36, so that a relatively centralposition of the said element 2 within the manifold It! may be had.

Said cross bar member 34 is placed within a recess 38 of the adaptor 40,which is made of insulating material having its contact end 42 ext I8,suitable lead .ends 48 and 50 are connected .5;

to the copper washer 52, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Said adaptor 40 is provided with suitable holes 54 which correspond tothe size and the position of the bolts used in bolting the carburetorflange 56 to the said manifold flange 46, and, said adaptor 40 is alsoprovided with suitable passages 58 and 60, which are threaded as shownand adapted to hold in place the said air valve member 6 and thesupplemental air valve I2.

The air valve member 6 comprises a body 62 which is provided with achamber 64 wherein a suitable valve seat 66 is placed and which isadapted to receive an air passage central member 68 of which, one end ispointed as at 10 in conformity to the said valve seat 66, while theother end is threaded, as shown, for inter-engaging the said body 62 andto provide the necessary adjustment for the volume of air which may passthrough, and which, may be locked in place, in adjusted position, bymeans of the locking nut 12.

Said body member 62 is provided with a side outlet passage 14 having athreaded socket 16 which is to receive the threaded inlet section 18 ofthe said cylinder 8; said cylinder 8 comprising a cap member which isprovided with a suitable neck member 82 and to which the insulating barmember 84 is attached, and, the said neck member 82, through itspassage, is provided with a guiding collar 86 for the purpose to holdthe stem member 88 in place.

The end 80 of the said stem 88, within said cylinder 8, is provided witha washer 92 and also having a retaining cup member 94 associatedtherewith, which is held in place by means of a lock washer 96 and thenut 98, as shown, while the other end I00 is provided with a pair oflock nuts 102 which are connecting the transverse bar member I84, havinga hole I06 provided therein to insure free movement of the stem end I00when the apparatus is in operation. In order to hold the transverse barmember I04 and the cup member 94 in a relatively upper position, inorder to break the points of contact I08, said stem member 98 isprovided with a suitable spring member I I0, which is held in place bymeans of a washer H2 and locked in place by means of a pin I I4.

The said switch 4, comprises an insulating bushing I6 which is held inengaged position to the said insulating bar 84 by means of the shankmember I I8, also, it is provided with a locking nut I22, while theextended end is provided with the contact element I24, thus forming thecontact point I88.

Said transverse bar member I04 is provided with a suitable insulatingstrip I26 having a resilient member i28 attached thereto by means of arivet I38; said resilient member I28 comprises a loop end I32 which isprovided with the contact element 34, while the other end extendsparallely to the end of the said transverse bar I04, being held thereinby means of the contact rivet I36, then, said resilient member forming aU-turn as at I38 in order to provide a springing effect for the said barmember I04, and, in order to hold it in its relative position, asuitable bracket I40 is provided therein, which is held upon saidinsulating bar 84 by means of suitable screws I42 and to which the endI44 of the said resilient member I28, is attached, as shown.

The said transverse bar member I04 is also provided with a magneticcontact plate I46, which is positioned in a close proximity to the coreI48 of the magnet member I50, which is positioned upon the end I52 ofthe said insulating bar 84, so

that, the suction produced by the pistons within the engine cylinderswill cause the cup member 84 to move downwardly, closing the contactpoint I08, or, by energizing the magnet member I50, the magneticinfluence will cause the core member I48 to attract the contact plateI46, and closing the said contact points I08, the purpose and theoperation'of which will be presently described.

ment 2, a suitable electric current source may be In order to provideheat energy to the said eleused, such as a storage battery I54, which isprovided with lead wires I56, connecting the contact rivet I36, also,having a lead wire I58 connecting the switch I60, and which connects thelead wire I62 of the magnet member I50: said magnet member having a leadwire I64 connecting the manifold ground wire I66, which is grounded asat G. When the contact points I08 are closed, by the action of thesuction influencing the piston cup 94 of the cylinder 8, or, by closingthe switch I60, the current passes through the lead wires I56 to theresilient member I28, passing through the contact element I34 to thecontact element I24, which leads into the contact rod I 20 and to whicha lead wire I68 is attached, thus passing the current to the wire endI10, which is connected to the contact end 42 oi the cross bar member asat I12, and thus allowing the current to pass through the stud 26, whichcauses the current to heat the element ends 20 and 22, and then passingthrough the lead ends 48 and 50 to the contact plate 52, and finally tothe ground wire I66 in completing its circuit.

When the engine is functioning the elements 2 will be heated as soon asthe suction, created by the action of the piston in the cylinders, willcause the cup 94 to be drawn downwardly, causing the contact points I08to close, or, when deemed advisable, the switch I60 may be closed,causing the magnetic influence in the magnet I50 to energize the coreI48, which by attracting the contact plate I46 will close the contactpoints I08, then the passing current flowing from the battery I54 I willheat the elements, so that, when the atomized fuel vapor passestherethrough the heat will cause the vapor to vaporize said fuel, andwill break down the atomic structure of the passing vapor, causing saidvapors to become highly volatile and thus insuring perfect combustion.

It may be noted that in order to insure the volatility of the gases, itis invariably necessary to supplant an additional volume of air,therefore, the said supplemental valve I2, connected to said adaptor 40,is provided with a valve seat I14, which is positioned within the valvebody I16, and wherein a plurality of passages I18 are positioned, sothat, by increasing the opening between the valve seat I14 and the portI80 of the needle valve I4, more air may pass therethrough and into thechamber I82, further, because of the position of the air inlet 60 inrespect to the interperiphery of the said manifold opening or chamber,the rushing air will cause said mixed gases to whirl and thereforeinsuring the mixing of the gases with the new coming air.

Further, it may be noted, that in order to prevent possible spark fromthe contact points I08, which may become a cause for igniting gases, asuitable cover I84 is provided, enclosing said contact switch 4 of thesaid apparatus, and having the valve member 6 provided with a suitabletubular extension I86, the end of which connects with the passage 58 atthe adaptor member 40, as shown in Fig. 5.

While we have thus described our inventionwith great particularity itwill be clear that the same may be modified throughout a wide range.

We, accordingly, do not propose to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction herein shown and described in the specification, butreserve the rights in practice to make necessary changes andmodifications, which may come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In the apparatus of the class described, comprising, electricallyheating means positioned in the manifold and the path of the passinggases, adapted for vaporizing the hydrocarbon fuel while passing throughthe intake manifold of the internal combustion engine, a magneticallyinfluenced switch means connected to said apparatus 'and associated withsaid electrically heating means for automatically closing the electriccurrent controlling switch, thus, causing, the electric current to passthrough the said electrically heating means and for allowing pre-heatingof the said heating means before and during the operation of theinternal combustion engine.

2. In the apparatus of the class described, com.- prising, automaticallycontrolled and electrically heated means positioned in the intakemanifold and the path of the passing hydrocarbon gases, adapted forheating and disintegrating the hydrocarbon fuel, while passing throughthe said intake manifold of the internal combustion engine, amagnetically influenced switch means associated with the said lastmentioned means for causing the electric current to pass through thesaid heating means, and, an air valve member associated with saidapparatus having its inlet air passage positioned at the inter-peripheryof the said manifold and in close proximity to the said electricallyheated means for causing the incoming air to inter-mix with the passinggases and thereby increasing the volatility of the heated vapors.

3. In the apparatus of the class described, comprising, electricallyheating element means positioned in the intake manifold and in, the pathof the passing hydrocarbon gaseous fuel which is used in the internalcombustion engine, vacuum controlling means associated with saidelectrically heating means for automatically controlling the electriccurrent passing to the said heating means, and valve means connected tosaid manifold at a close proximity to the said heating means forcontrolling the passage of air into the said manifold and for causingwhirling effect upon the mixed gases therein.

4. In the apparatus of the class described adapted for vaporizing thefuel passing through the manifold of the internal combustion engine,said apparatus having a source of electric current associated therewith,and comprising, an adaptor member positioned between the carburetor andthe said manifold, an electrically heating element centrally positionedwithin said manifold and in the path of the passing fuel gases, a vacuumcontrolled means connected to said adaptor, and a contact meansassociated with and controlled by the said vacum means for controllingthe flow of the electric current through said contact means and to thesaid heating element.

5. In the apparatus of the class described adapted for vaporizing thefuel passing through the manifold of the internal combustion engine,comprising, an electric heat element positioned within the passage ofsaid manifold and in the path of the passing fuel vapors, a vacuum valvecontrolling means connected to said heat element for controlling theelectric current passing therethrough, and air valve means connected tosaid manifold for controlling the air flow into said manifold and forinter-mixing the vaporized fuel with an additional volume of air andtherefore increasing the volatility of the combustive gaseous vapors.

6. In the apparatus of the class described, adapted for vaporizing thefuel passing through the manifold of the internal combustion engine,comprising, a source of electric current, a magnet member associatedwith said apparatus for controlling the passage of the said electriccurrent, a contact switch member positioned in close proximity to saidmagnet member, an electric element positioned within said manifold andin the path of the passing gaseous fuel and connecting the said contactswitch, and a magnet controlling switch inter-connecting said source ofelectrical current, so that, when said switch is closed the electricallyenergized magnet will cause the magnetic influence to close the saidcontact switch and allowing the electrical energy to flow through andheat the said element, for causing the passing gaseous fuel to becomedis integrated.

ALOIS SKOK. NOBLE O. BINLEY.

